We are big proponents of the 12-step program. There is also a spiritual component of the program. For many people this can be a big turn off. Other people have trouble reconciling the difference between spirituality and their individual religion. We talk about all of this today with our guest Elliott Hughes.

Elliott is the National Outreach Coordinator for Chapel Hill Medical Detox. In this episode, he shares his struggles with getting sober with just religion and how he didn’t accept the spiritual components of the 12-step program. Then he shares how he learned to balance the two. He needed the support, community, and action of the program, which then allowed him to practice a stronger faith in his own religion.

Show Notes

• [03:43] Elliott grew up in Indiana. He went to church. He was a decent student. He was an athlete.
• [04:35] in spite of his Christian background, he fell into the grips of addiction.
• [04:43] He began drinking and smoking pot at 14. Things progressed until he found heroin, which really brought him to his knees.
• [07:02] Elliott doesn't think it was rebelling against church that made him start partying.
• [07:40] He just didn't have a solid foundation and chose the route of partying.
• [09:54] The 12-step program talks about a power greater than yourself. It's a spiritual program not a religious program.
• [11:44] Ben found church in his heart and grasps on to the fact that God spoke to him through other people.
• [13:11] You can get sober even if God isn't your path.
• [14:07] When Elliott meets one-on-one, he doesn't want to dilute the message of getting sober by preaching his beliefs.
• [16:36] Ben was a late bloomer with the higher power thing.
• [17:36] Elliott tried to get sober through church for years.
• [18:05] Elliott tried a 12-step program and it didn't work. Then he started a faith-based program, but just going to church wasn't enough.
• [19:25] It takes more than just going to church. You need a program combined with spirituality.
• [20:09] There is a sense of community in the sober community. It's hard to find like minded people at church who are also struggling with addiction unless you tell everyone about it.
• [21:07] With the 12-step program you do more than just attend meetings you have to take action.
• [21:20] There's a sense of community with like-minded people you all have the same goals and there's a service aspect. There is also the sponsor and sponsee part.
• [23:02] The 12 steps and the program gave me a practical way to take a look at myself that going to church didn't.
• [24:42] When people aren't vulnerable and honest, you can't see their transformation.
• [28:19] Faith without works is dead.
• [31:22] What Ben knows is from experience. We can use our struggles for His glory.
• [32:57] Elliott struggles between the balance of spiritual and religious. It's important for him to have the balance and feed himself spiritually.
• [34:40] Someone who hasn't struggled with addiction can't help him like someone who has could.
• [36:49] The difference between religion and spirituality for Elliott was a shift in his heart.
• [39:06] Spirituality is about the relationship you build with your higher power.
• [43:11] If people are out there struggling, they should just hold on because they can recover.

Links and Resources:

• Chapel Hill Medical Detox
• Real Elliott Hughes on Facebook
• Real Elliott Hughes on Instagram